The Trump Administration & US - Indo-Pacific Relations

This resource tracked statements, developments, visits, and other interactions in US-Indo-Pacific relations under the President Trump administration. Special focus was given to the comments and activities of President Donald J. Trump; Vice President Mike Pence; United States Trade Representative Ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer; Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Jr.; former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson; former Secretary of Defense James Mattis; and former Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark Esper.

Methodology

All Posts

USTR Lighthizer Releases 2018 Special 301 Report on Intellectual Property Rights

"The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) today released the 2018 Special 301 Report, identifying trading partners that do not adequately or effectively protect and enforce intellectual property (IP) rights or otherwise deny market access to U.S. innovators and creators that rely on protection of their IP rights. The Report calls on U.S. trading partners to address IP-related challenges with a special focus on the countries identified on the Watch List and Priority Watch List. [...] China is on the Priority Watch List…

Remarks by Vice President Pence at a Tax Cuts to Put America First Event

"Under President Donald Trump, I can assure you, the era of economic surrender is over. Our President, just today — (applause) — our President, just today, took another critical step to put American workers and American jobs first when he took action to combat China’s unfair trade practices and to protect America’s intellectual property. And I promise you, this President and this administration are going to keep fighting for American jobs and for free and fair trade that benefits our economy and our family."

Remarks by President Trump at Signing of a Presidential Memorandum Targeting China's Economic Aggression

"But we have one particular problem. And I view them as a friend; I have tremendous respect for President Xi. We have a great relationship. They’re helping us a lot in North Korea. And that’s China. But we have a trade deficit, depending on the way you calculate, of $504 billion. Now, some people would say it’s really $375 billion. Many different ways of looking at it, but any way you look at it, it is the largest deficit of any country in the history…

Presidential Memorandum on the Actions by the United States Related to the Section 301 Investigation

"On August 14, 2017, I directed the United States Trade Representative (Trade Representative) to determine whether to investigate China’s laws, policies, practices, or actions that may be unreasonable or discriminatory and that may be harming American intellectual property rights, innovation, or technology development. On August 18, 2017, the Trade Representative initiated an investigation under section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the “Act”) (19 U.S.C. 2411). [...] Section 1. Tariffs. (a) The Trade Representative should take all appropriate action under section 30…

U.S. Department of Commerce Finds Dumping of Imports of Carton-Closing Staples from the People's Republic of China

"Today [March 22, 2018], U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the affirmative final determination in the antidumping duty (AD) investigation of imports of carton-closing staples from the People’s Republic of China (China). [...] ommerce determined that exporters from China sold carton-closing staples in the United States at 115.65 – 263.40 percent less than fair value. As a result of today’s decision, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits from importers of carton-closing staples based on the final rates. In…

Remarks by Vice President Pence on National Agriculture Day

"We made a deal, for the first time in over a decade, to sell American beef to China. And we reopened Vietnam to distillers and dried grains, and we’re just getting started. We’re going to open up the world to America’s agricultural goods."

President Trump's Remarks at Rally for Republican Congressional Candidate Rick Saccone

"And I must tell you, President Xi of China has really helped us a lot. They have really helped us. And because 93 percent of the goods come in through China going into Korea, North Korea, 93 percent. So that's pretty powerful. And they have been very good. They could have done more, but that's OK. I say to them, you have been great. You could you done more. But they have done a lot. They have done more. China has done more for us…

President Trump's Phone Call with Chinese President Xi

"President Donald J. Trump spoke today with President Xi Jinping of China about recent developments related to North Korea. The two leaders welcomed the prospect of dialogue between the United States and North Korea, and committed to maintain pressure and sanctions until North Korea takes tangible steps toward complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization. President Trump expressed his hope that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un might choose a brighter path for North Korea’s future."

Secretary Ross Announces $1.19 Billion Penalty for Chinese Company’s Export Violations to Iran and North Korea

"Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. Stoday announced that China’s Zhongxing Telecommunications Equipment Corporation and ZTE Kangxun Telecommunications Ltd., known collectively as ZTE, has agreed to a record-high combined civil and criminal penalty of $1.19 billion, pending approval from the courts, after illegally shipping telecommunications equipment to Iran and North Korea in violation of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR). As part of the settlement, ZTE has agreed to pay a penalty of $661 million to Commerce’s…